Washington: Astronaut Sunita Williams and top lawmakers including Republican Party MP John Cornyn and Democratic Party MP Mark Warner in the US on Friday celebrated the 75th Independence Day of India, and congratulated the American citizens of Indian descent. The lawmakers noted that the relationship between the world’s two largest democracies is now more important than ever before. Warner, the co-chair of the influential Senate India Caucus, said, “I want to congratulate the people of India on 75 years of independence.
The strengthening of ties between the world’s two largest democracies is now more important than ever.” The India Caucus is the largest bipartisan caucus in the US Parliament. He said that in 75 years, India has moved towards the future as a strong, resilient democracy. MP Cornyn, the co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, said that 74 years ago India became free from British rule and began a long journey towards becoming the largest democracy in the world. Cornyn, who was a co-founder of the Senate India Caucus, said he already knew the importance of a strong India-US relationship. “I am proud to see that our relationship has strengthened in recent years,” he said.
Senator Robert Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, said India’s Independence Day celebrations in New Jersey and around the world are about to begin and he would be proud to join his friends in India and Indian-Americans on the occasion. Congratulating India on Independence Day, Sunita Williams referred to the history of India-US cooperation in the field of space.
“NASA and ISRO have collaborated in many different areas, including Earth and space science. In addition, NASA has provided support in the areas of deep space communications and navigation for ISRO’s missions to the Moon and Mars. “Space exploration is a global enterprise where we all need to work together. I am particularly interested to know the progress of Gaganyaan, India’s first manned spaceflight mission.”
